'Tis the season for giving, and once again, Athens musicians are coming together to show support for local causes.

Hot on the heels of last weekend's benefit for Union Street employees, a dozen local bands are scheduled to perform at the fourth annual Benefest, a three-day festival set up to raise funds for The Gathering Place and the Stuart's Opera House After-School Music Program.

On Nov. 16, flames erupted on West Union Street in Athens, just hours after local band Blond finished their set at The Union Bar and Grill. While no one was in the bar at the time of the fire, Blond ended up losing all of their instruments, valued at nearly $3000.

Now another band is offering assistance. Proceeds from Injecting Strangers' new single, "Last Night at The Union," will help Blond replace their musical equipment. The song is now available for download from the Cincinnati band's Bandcamp page.

According to the GoFundMe page for the Union Street Fire Employee Relief, more than $44,000 has been raised by 750 people in just eight days. Now Athens musicians are stepping up.

The first of three benefits has been scheduled for this Saturday at Casa Cantina, featuring 10 of Athens' best-known bands and 100% of the proceeds going to Union Street employees affected by the Nov. 16 fire.

A retired professor and musician died after being hit by a car while crossing Radford Road on Friday.

Richard D. Syracuse, of Athens, was crossing the road at about 9:40 p.m. when a Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Sarah A. Harkins, of Athens, struck him, according to a press release by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Athens post.

Syracuse was pronounced dead at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital. Harkins did not suffer any injuries, according to the Highway Patrol.